by Gina Scarpa

 

Going into this week's leg of The Amazing Race, Nary and Jamie knew they had their work cut out for them. After coming in last and survivor a non-elimination leg, they had a Speed Bump to complete and a lot of time to make up. Despite two teams being U-Turned, the federal agents couldn't make up enough time to stay in it and they were eliminated. Today, we talked to them in an exclusive interview about lying about their profession, the team they did not want to work with, and whether or not they could've stayed in The Amazing Race.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Whose idea was it to try out for The Amazing Race?
A. Jamie: I think it was my idea initially. I basically printed out the application and told Nary to fill it out. It all happened so fast! I went online and it was due within an hour. I panicked and filled it out like a crazy person.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Why did you feel lying about being federal agents was a good move, especially with the Big Brother team in the mix? They definitely had the biggest target on their backs.
A. Nary: The main reason why we lied to begin with was that people perceive law enforcement very differently. We wanted people to meet us as individuals and not portray us as federal agents. That was one reason and then, we felt like we could also be looked at as a threat. Stuff like that. Most people like teachers and that's why we decided to use that profession. In regards to the other contestants, we didn't know we would have other law enforcement agents, military, Big Brother players. That's something we planned out in advance.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Art and JJ figured out that you guys were agents. Do you think that, because you had law enforcement in common, you could have worked together?
A. Jamie: I mean, in hindsight, people would think, "They're federal agents, they're federal agents. Why not work with them?" They made me dislike them. I don't care if I'm knee deep in quicksand, I'm going to look to Nary for help. Trying to work with them... no. We can handle it on our own. That's kind of how we operate. Yes, we were great friends with Mark and Bopper and we got along with Brendon and Rachel. We did so much better operating on our own. Calling it an alliance is a strong word but when we got a chance to help Mark and Bopper, we did. Same thing with Brendon and Rachel.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: People have had strong opinions of Brendon and Rachel ever since they first appeared on Big Brother. Why do you think everyone had such a problem with them - because of their strong personalities or because they've already been on a reality show, twice, and Rachel won?
A. Nary: That, for sure, is one. Yeah, she won on Big Brother. People were like, "She already won something," and people already had a bad taste in their mouths. Knowing them as people, from what you see on tv, they're actually really nice people.
A. Jamie: We had never seen them when she was whining and crying. We were doing our own tasks at the time. Seeing that on tv was totally new for us. Did it drive me bananas? Absolutely! It's like, "Girl, you're better than that!" She knows how to get their airtime. She knows what she's doing.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: One thing that is rough about watching The Amazing Race is listening to the couples fight with one another. It seems much better to run with a friend, like the two of you or Mark and Bopper.
A. Nary: We actually did say that! We said it would be really tough on a relationship. Jamie and I probably did annoy each other and it happens! That's gonna happen! But do it with a significant other, seeing it, we're like, "Oh my god! Thank god!" JJ said it right. He said, "And this is why we're not here with our wives!" It's gotta be tough on those relationships.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Teams didn't U-Turn you this week because you were so far behind but you did come close to catching up. Are you glad you weren't targeted?
A. Jamie: You could tell we were behind. We were hours behind but we made up great time. Without a stabilizer like a train station or an airport, it was really against us. When Mark and Bopper had their Speed Bump, eventually, we all caught up together at a train station. Those are the only ways you're really going to catch up. It would've been silly for Art and JJ to U-Turn us. Would it have changed the ending? Not a bit.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you handle your elimination?
A. Nary: I mean, at that point, we could've been eliminated the episode prior. We knew that if we came in last this time, we'd be eliminated. We knew our chances were slim. It was emotional because we're still competitive and hate to lose but when we look back on it, it's like, "There's nothing we could've done better. We ran a really good race and we're proud of ourselves and we're happy." If we had to go out like that, there's nothing we could've done.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Of all the countries you visited along the race, which one would you most want to go back to?
A. Jamie: I think I'd go back to Africa. I'd go back and go on a safari.
A. Nary: Tanzania was just amazing! I'm so glad we got to see it. It's something I've always wanted to do. I actually liked Paraguay too.

 

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

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